Xbox launch ignites console war

For the computer games enthusiast, it is the biggest day of the year.

Tonight sees the launch of Microsoft's much-lauded Xbox games console - and new figures reveal it has sold in its thousands even before reaching the shelves.

But industry experts are cautious about its success in the long term, saying that other consoles have more games and its cost may be prohibitive for many consumers.

Retailer Dixons said that, despite the £299 cost, it had been inundated with pre- orders during the past month. Shops are bracing themselves for long queues around the country as people attempt to buy the Xbox over the counter from midnight.

Chris Langley, managing director of Dixons, said: "We have had 10,000 preorders since we first started taking them five weeks ago. We expect to sell over 20,000 in the first few days."

Customers have willingly paid up to £50 deposits for the machine, despite recent reports from Japan and America that some Xboxes had left scratches on the edges of DVDs - a claim that Microsoft said affected a tiny proportion of the machines.

At Electronics Boutique on Oxford Street "thousands of calls" had come in to confirm that machines will be ready for collection at midnight. The interest at Virgin Megastore is already "phenomenal".

Mr Langley said Dixons had sufficient stocks to last until the weekend, adding: "Then we will have to wait until the beginning of next week for new stock to arrive."

Microsoft says it can meet the demand from its dedicated factory in Hungary, as well as stockpiles in German warehouses.

But pre-sales have not overtaken other games consoles launched with similar hype. Jonathan Cronin, marketing manager at the games specialist Computer Exchange, said: "If they don't sell out in the first week, it won't have been a success. But there hasn't been the frenzy there was with Play-Station2. I don't think you'll be seeing riots in Paris, as you did with PS2."

With Sony's PS2 already out, and Nintendo's new GameCube due for launch on 3 May, Microsoft cannot afford any slip-ups. Dave McCarthy, of Edge magazine, said: "Sony has had an 18-month head start and now has 25 million consoles in circulation and a catalogue of 220 games."

The Xbox is the most powerful console but is bulkier than its rivals, and costs more - with PS2 at £199 and the GameCube expected to cost £160.

James Ashton, of Official Xbox Magazine, said: "The price will hurt Microsoft but PS2 launched at £299 and they brought the price down in time. The same will happen with Xbox."

SONY PLAYSTATION 2:
Price: £199
Games: £20-£45
Titles to look for: Metal Gear Solid 2; Sons of Liberty (definitive shoot 'em up)
Extra capability: plays CDs and DVDs; optional extra broadband
Our rating: 8/10

NINTENDO GAMECUBE
Price: £160 approx
Games: £45 each; around 20 at launch
Titles to look for: Luigi's Mansion (animation); Resident Evil series (gory)
Extra capability: no CDs or DVDs; optional 56k modem. Compatible with Game Boy Advance
Our rating: 6/10